And So It Begins... NOT UNTIL YOU is here and other news!

The day is finally here! Part 1 of my very first serial novel is here, NOT UNTIL YOU DARE.

I'm really excited to share this story with you and I hope you'll participate in the ongoing reader discussions throughout the next eight weeks. 

Some things to note:

• I'll be chatting on Facebook and on Twitter using the hashtag #NotUntilYou. So come chime in!

• Nocturne Reads is having a Read-A-Long for each part each week. I'd love for y'all to stop by and comment. One of the most fun things about a serial is that readers are reading at the same pace. No one (except me, of course) knows what's going to happen next--no spoilers! :) So I hope you'll play along. I really want it to be a full experience for everyone. 

• I'm a guest today over at Bookish Temptations, talking about Black Is the New Gray: Blending Genres because this serial is a blending of erotic romance and New Adult--two of my favorite subgenres.

• Reviews on sites like Amazon and B&N are more important than most people realize. Goodreads is helpful too. So if you read Not Until You Dare, I'd love it if you could leave a review out there in the world. :)

Also, a bit of news from Publisher's Marketplace:

Roni Loren's NOT UNTIL YOU ebook, in which a good girl discovers that once you dare to cross some lines, it's hard to turn back, to Kate Bradley at Harper UK, in a six-book deal, by Tawanna Sullivan at Berkley.

*This deal says NOT UNTIL YOU, but it includes all of my backlist and frontlist (through book 6 next fall). So this means my UK readers will now get Print/Ebook versions of ALL of my books. Yay! *twirls around*

That's all I've got for you today. For those of you who have already purchased the book, thank you! I can't express how much I appreciate you all. *big hugs*

Checking Items Off Your Bucket List: Photography

A neighborhood cat escaping his yard.

Back in February, I blogged about making a reasonable mini-bucket list. We all have big, bold things we'd like to do someday, but often someday doesn't come or the task is too big/expensive/time-consuming for us to fit into our lives. So I wanted to make a list I could reasonably tackle right then.

You can read the full post here, but one of my items was to learn more about photography. Here's what I said back in February:

I have always been interested in photography. It's one of those creative pursuits I "hope to learn" one day not for career purposes but for a hobby. But especially after my blog photo lawsuit debacle, I now am REALLY interested in learning how to take my own photos. I've gotten a few fun apps on my Iphone, but obviously that's very limited.

And I know a DSLR camera would be the next step, but those are expensive and at this point, I'd have no idea how to operate it. So I feel like I'd need to take a class if I decided to invest in that pricey of a camera. So this one has some cost involved. But I'm still really interested in pursuing it.

So, I was a bit intimidated by the learning curve and the upfront cost. However, in March, I took a trip to NYC to visit the Penguin offices and meet the publishing team involved with my books. On that trip, I had the chance to do lots of sightseeing and took lots of pictures--but all I had was my Iphone to do it. So when I came back home, I decided that the next royalty check I got, I would treat myself to a fancy camera and find a camera class.

In April, I bought the Canon Rebel T4i and a 50mm lens after chatting with Twitter friends/photographers on what I should get (extra thanks to Jenn LeBlanc for sending me long, detailed emails answering my newbie questions.) Then I researched and found an Intro to Digital Photography class at a local university for a really reasonable price. It was seven classes, two hours once a week. 

I just finished the last class this week, and I'm so happy I decided to take the plunge. It was a risk to do during deadline time. And I almost talked myself out of it with "you need to be using all your non-mommy time on writing" but sometimes you need to refresh your brain with non-writing creative pursuits. 

Of course, this was only an intro class and now I want to learn more, so I'm going to probably sign up for another class in the fall. But at least now I can use my camera on manual mode and feel confident about taking photos.

So if you have one of those lingering bucket list items that is doable, I encourage you to take the time to try to fit it in. It's a nice feeling to do something purely for your own enjoyment or enrichment. Not because it's practical. Not because it's necessary. Not because you need to make money from it. But just because you want to.

And though I'm still learning, I'll share some of my pics I've taken over the last few weeks. If you want to see more, check out my Flickr.  (And btw, I list almost all of my photos as creative commons on Flickr so feel free to share using the creative commons guidelines.) : )

 

So what's on your reasonable bucket list? What would you like to tackle next? Or, what are you currently checking off your list? 

Must-Read Monday: Another Screenwriting Gem For Writers

Typically, I reserve Must-Read Monday for fiction and non-writing related books. However, I'm making an exception today because this one is so darn good.

If you've followed me for a while, you know I'm a big fan of writing craft books. And in particular, I'm in love with books on screenwriting because I find that those techniques have clicked with my pantser brain more than anything else. I'm practically religious about Save the Cat. So anytime, I pick up a new screenwriting book, I'm hopeful, but usually am not expecting to find anything as helpful as Cat.

Well, weekend before last, I attended DFW Con both to teach and go to classes. And one of the classes I attended was Screenwriting for Writers by Lou Anders. It was definitely the most helpful class I attended all weekend. And one of the books the presentation was based on was My Story Can Beat Up Your Story by Jeffrey Alan Schechter.

I came home and immediately ordered the book and gobbled it up in a few days. It's one of those books that has so many great nuggets of information that I feel like I can't hold it all in my head at once. I'm now going back through it and making notes and worksheets from the information so that I can add it to my pre-writing routine. (This is the point where I delude myself into thinking I'll one day be able to plot before I write the book.) But whether you're a pantser like me or a seasoned plotter, I think this book has a lot to offer. And reviews seem to back me up. Out of 55 reviews, 51 are 5-stars and 4 are 4-stars. That's impressive.

AND it's on Kindle right now for a mere $3.03 (for some reason, it's not available in Nook - boo). I bought it in print because I prefer my craft books in paper so that I can flip through and reference easily, so that's a bit pricier at $15.45 but still well worth it.

And if you want to read about my other must-have writing craft books, I list my faves here.

Has anyone else read this one? Anyone else a sucker for a good screenwriting book? What's your favorite book on craft?

Name a Character in a Loving on the Edge Book!

Just wanted to pop in and let y'all know about the Brenda Novak Online Auction for Diabetes Research. Each year the auction has the best prizes from the literary world. It's a great cause and great fun. 

And this year, I'm offering an opportunity to name a character in one of my Loving on the Edge books (most likely in Kade's story, NEED YOU TONIGHT, or Colby's story.) You can use your own name or pick another. It's up to you! But the winner will get to see their chosen name in print. And if you have a special request, like your character gets a hug from Jace or one of the other guys, I can try to work with that. 

So who doesn't want that? ;)  AND it's for a terrific cause. You also get signed copies of my first three books (which is a 45.00 value all by itself.)

Here's the info if you'd like to bid on the prize:

Have a character named after you (or the person of your choice) in a future Loving on the Edge book by Roni Loren (one of the 2014 releases). Plus, receive signed print copies of CRASH INTO YOU, MELT INTO YOU, and FALL INTO YOU.

CLICK HERE TO BID

NOT UNTIL YOU Cover Reveals!

So it's only a little over a month away until my first e-serial, NOT UNTIL YOU, comes out. And finally, I have covers to share with you. Yay for covers!

So here they are. I wanted something young and modern since this is the first college-aged heroine I've written. I love the black, white, and red theme.

What do you think?

And here's the blurb for Part 1 out June 11th! 

Not Until You: Part I

NOT UNTIL YOU DARE 

From the author of the Loving on the Edge novels comes a story of a good girl who discovers that once you dare to cross some lines, it’s hard to turn back…

On the night of her graduation, innocent veterinary student Cela decides to play a game of Never Have I Ever with the two hot neighbors she’s been quietly crushing on for the last year. Always the prim and proper student, Cela thinks she’s earned a wild night before she has to move back home under the watchful gaze of her family. But what starts out as a simple game is about to take a very sensual turn...

Ian Foster is tired of playing games. With his membership to The Ranch, an exclusive BDSM resort, and a musician roommate who brings home groupies with a taste for ménage, Foster has a life most guys would kill for. But lately, his need for dominance is no longer satisfied via one-night stands. He craves the full surrender a woman—a submissive of his own. 

But when his quiet, sweet-as-sugar neighbor shows up at their door with a bottle of tequila and an invitation, Foster decides he and Pike may have time for one more fling… 

Ready to pre-order? Come on, I'll lurve you forever. :)  Nook | Kindle